Also known as a hidden camera or secret camera, a spy camera is a small device that can be used to capture both visual and audio activity while it is in progress, without anyone present being aware that the activity is being recorded. Devices of this type can sometimes be used for surveillance by law enforcement, making it easier to enforce security in common areas. A spy camera can also be used for entertainment purposes, capturing people responding to certain situations without being aware of the filming process. The use of this type of device is controversial, in that some people feel the use of secret devices is an invasion or privacy, while others view them strictly as a tool to be used in situations that have to do with protecting people and property from harm.
There are a number of different types of spy camera equipment on the market today. Some designs call for the use of a camera device that connects to a power source using a power cable of some type. These wired versions are often connected with other recording equipment that helps to create a permanent record of the events captured by the device. Cameras of this type can be mounted discreetly in just about any space, provided there is a way to conceal the cables and wires that are part of the overall setup.
The use of wireless cameras is common today. This type of spy camera is often self-contained, in that it operates with the use of battery power and manages the recording with some type of internal memory capacity. Many of these devices are also configured to make use of wireless connections to transmit the captured events for viewing at a remote location. Typically much smaller than their wired counterparts, a wireless spy camera can be secreted just about anywhere, ranging from a vase of flowers to an overhead smoke detector.
Debate about the ethics of using a spy camera has been ongoing for decades. One school of thought holds that devices of this type are appropriate for use in public areas, allowing merchants to monitor activities taking place within their stores, or for law enforcement to have ready access to recorded events that offer on streets and in public parks. The use of spy cameras as part of military surveillance is also generally considered appropriate. Detractors hold that the availability of these types of hidden cameras to the general public makes it possible for people to be victimized for entertainment purposes, capturing private moments that were never meant to be shared with the world at large.